Article of footwear having a resilient dynamic cushioning system

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear having an upper and a sole coupled to the upper. The sole includes an outsole that extends along a length of the sole to engage the ground. The sole includes a sidewall, such as a midsole rim, projecting upwardly from the outsole to define a sole chamber. The sole includes a plurality of hollow pillars projecting upwardly from the base and disposed within the sole chamber to support the wearer's foot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole coupled to the upper, the sole comprising:
 a sole unit configured to support the foot of the wearer, the sole unit comprising:
 a base extending along a length of the sole and configured to contact the ground, 
 a sidewall projecting upwardly from the base and extending along a perimeter of the base, wherein the base and the sidewall define a sole chamber, and 
 a plurality of hollow pillars projecting upwardly from the base and disposed within the sole chamber, 
 
 a clip received on the base of the sole unit in a heel region of the sole, the clip extending from a first end of the sidewall to a second end of the sidewall, wherein the clip comprises a grid of ducts extending in a transverse direction, 
   wherein the sole unit is made of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity and the clip is made of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that is less than first modulus of elasticity.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the ducts of the clip include openings disposed on a lateral side of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the clip includes:
 a casing coupled to the base and the first and second ends of the sidewall, and   a plurality of strips disposed in the casing and extending in the transverse direction from the lateral side of the sole such that the strips define the grid of ducts.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the casing of the clip defines a window disposed on the lateral side of the sole, the window exposing the openings of the ducts of the clip. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the sidewall is disposed at a back end of the heel region of the sole, and the second end of the sidewall is disposed on the lateral side of the sole between the back end of the heel region and the forefoot region of the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole unit comprises a partition wall projecting upwardly from the base and disposed between the clip and the plurality of pillars. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the partition wall comprises:
 a first segment extending in a longitudinal direction from the first end of the sidewall disposed at a back end of the heel region of the sole to a location between the back end of the heel region and the forefoot region of the sole,   a second segment extending from a front end of the first segment to the second end of the sidewall disposed on the lateral side of the sole between the back end of the heel region and the forefoot region of the sole.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pillars each comprises:
 a curved sidewall,   a dome-shaped lid extending from an upper end of the curved sidewall, wherein the curved sidewall and the lid define a cavity, and   an aperture disposed at a center of the lid and opening into the cavity.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first material of the sole unit comprises rubber, and the second material of the clip comprises thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pillars are arranged rows extending in a transverse direction, the rows of pillars are arranged along the length of the sole from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole coupled to the upper, the sole comprising:
 an outsole configured to engage the ground, 
 a midsole rim disposed on an upper surface of the outsole and extending along a perimeter of the outsole, the midsole rim comprises an exterior surface defining a sidewall of the sole, wherein the midsole rim and the outsole define a sole chamber, and 
 a midsole core disposed within the sole chamber, the midsole core comprising:
 a base plate disposed on the upper surface of the outsole, and 
 a plurality of hollow pillars projecting upwardly from the base plate and filled with air, the plurality of pillars are arranged along the length of the sole from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole, 
 
   wherein the plurality of pillars include a first set of pillars fluidly connected together such that air is permitted to flow between the first set of pillars.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pillars include a second set of pillars, each pillar of the second set being fluidly isolated from the remainder of the pillars. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first set of pillars are arranged along a length of the sole from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pillars include:
 a lateral row of pillars extending from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole,   a medial row of pillars extending from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole, and   a central row of pillars disposed between the medial and lateral row of pillars and extending from the heel region of the sole to the forefoot region of the sole.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the first set of pillars include the central row of pillars. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the first set of pillars include one or more pillars disposed in the lateral row located in the forefoot and heel region of the sole and one or more pillars disposed in the medial row located in the forefoot and heel region of the sole. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the plate includes a plurality of channels defined on the bottom surface of the plate, interconnecting the first set of pillars. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the midsole core comprises:
 a first flange extending from a lateral side of the base plate in the forefoot region of the sole and a plurality of lateral forefoot pillars projecting upwardly from the first flange, and   a second flange extending from the lateral side of the base plate in the heel region of the sole and a plurality of lateral heel pillars projecting upwardly from the second flange.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the midsole rim comprises a first recess disposed on a lateral side of the midsole rim in the forefoot region of the sole and a second recess disposed on the lateral side of the midsole rim in the heel region of the sole, and wherein the lateral forefoot pillars are received in the first recess of the midsole rim and the lateral heel pillars are received in the second recess of the midsole rim.